opinion

The mayorship
and debates
by Miguel Antonio Bernal

The Dictionary of the Spanish Language defines the debate as "Controversy about a thing between two or more persons." However, the most current definition is the one that presents the debate as a "Discussion about a determined subject between two or more persons who meet publicly for this purpose."

The writer Francisco Rubiales, in his work "Democracia Secuestrada" (http://www.editorialalmuzara.com), reminds us that "The debate, in democracy, is the medium that foments discernment, without which neither common analysis nor the making of decisions are possible... it's the antechamber of any type of political progress and the only door through which democracy can be built among the citizens...." "Without debating, humanity places itself in danger's way and opens the doors to a fearsome dynamic that puts the pillars of modern democratic society --- freedoms, peace, justice, civil rights, control over the state, etc. --- in crisis. The debate is the surest way to know the truth.... The debate is essential for politics and indispensable for this new sort of democracy that should replace the devalued representative democracy."

I don't have the slightest doubt about the above, and I have always defined myself as a fervent partisan of the word, of the dialogue, of the debate. From the first moment that I presented before the community of the capital district my aspirations as an independent candidate for mayor, I haven't ceased to pose the importance of the public debate that all candidates for election to public offices ought to carry out.

Thus, I haven't ceased to invite the other citizens who are presenting themselves as candidates for mayor to appear together in forums, round tables, town meetings and neighborhood gatherings to present our proposals and our programs with respect to the capital community. I haven't been able to convince the candidates for the capital's mayorship to come together and debate in each of our district's 21 corregimientos.

This attitude of rejecting debates, which doesn't belong in a democratic concept, is an absolute lack of respect for the electorate. Excuses for not participating, responsibly and permanently, in debates will never be lacking for those who fear ideas, to those who flee from arguments and prefer spectacles, banality and slogans, but who in reality reject citizen participation, public questioning of their past, of their present, of their supposed future. They're not interested in people knowing the truth, nor do they believe in transparency, and much less in accountability.

Behind the backs of the citizenry and with the complicity of those who never fail to deceive the people, Roberto Velásquez and Bosco Vallarino solicited the suspension of the televised debate scheduled for Tuesday, January 20. I ask, What do they fear? Far from thinking that they're afraid of sharing the stage with an independent candidate, I conclude --- with a sad and heavy heart --- that they're afraid of the truth.